Gillingham appoint Adrian Pennock, Steve Lovell and Jamie Day as their coaching team

GILLINGHAM have announced that a new coaching team has been appointed tonight comprising of former defender Adrian Pennock as head coach, with Steve Lovell and Jamie Day joining as first-team coaches.

Pennock has been working with Day as a consultant at Vanarama National League South side Welling United.  The Wings have won their last six games since Day took over from Mark Goldberg in the dug-out, while Lovell left Gillingham last summer and has been working at Vanarama National League side Bromley as Neil Smith’s assistant.

The new Gillingham management team will be responsible for all first team coaching and activities until the end of the current playing season.

Gillingham had parted company with Justin Edinburgh, assistant manager David Kerslake and coach Wayne Hartswell on Tuesday.

Edinburgh was appointed manager in February 2015 after leaving Newport County and won 40 of his 102 games in charge.

“I am convinced they will enhance the performances of the first-team squad going forward, said Gillingham chairman Paul Scally.

He told www.gillinghamfootballclub.com: “The current squad is the most expensive in the history of Gillingham Football Club. It has enormous potential and is capable of achieving great success over the remainder of the season and beyond.

"I fully appreciate this has been a difficult few days for supporters. However, based on the playing performance over the previous calendar year, that of 14 wins out of 48 league games, and only eight victories from 25 matches this season, I felt a change was necessary to ensure that the club achieves the best possible position it can after the final 21 fixtures of this campaign."

The new coaches will be unveiled to the press on Friday morning, before meeting with the playing squad and taking their first training session immediately after.

Working alongside Gillingham team-mate Smith, Lovell has helped Bromley rise to thirteenth-place in the Vanarama National League.

Lovell told www.bromleyfc.tv/site: “I would just like to thank everyone connected with Bromley Football Club for making me feel so welcome in the time I’ve spent here.

“I have loved working with Neil and the players and would never have considered leaving Bromley but an opportunity at my home-town club Gillingham came up and I’ve decided to take it.

“The team at Bromley has improved immensely as the season has progressed and I’m sure under Neil it will continue to move forward.

“I have known Neil for over twenty years and he is destined to become a top manager. Neil has totally understood my decision and for that I am very grateful. Thanks once again to everyone for making me feel so welcome during my time at the Club.”

Smith is naturally disappointed that Lovell has quit Hayes Lane to return to Priestfield Stadium.

“I’m obviously disappointed to lose Steve from our management team but at the same time I’m delighted for him to return to his home club Gillingham. I wish him all the very best for the future and thank him for his time at the club," Smith told www.bromleyfc.tv/site.

Gillingham are in seventeenth-place in the Sky Bet League One table and are next in action when they travel to basement side Oldham Athletic on Saturday 14 January.

Welling United have risen to fifteenth-place – just two places above the drop zone – since Day took over from Goldberg, who has moved swiftly following the blow.

“Jamie Day and Ady Pennock have today accepted an offer to join Gillingham FC,” Welling owner Goldberg told www.wellingunitedfc.com/wp.

“We are disappointed to lose their services, but accept that their achievements over recent weeks have been recognised and rewarded.

“We thank them for their efforts on behalf of Welling United FC and wish them every success for the future.

“As an interim measure, both Harry Wheeler and Tristan Lewis, who have been involved in coaching sessions recently with the existing squad have been appointed as a joint caretaker management team.”

Last Updated: 21:25 - Wednesday 4 January 2017